The Patterns that Shape Our Bodies, from Cellular Organization to Transgenerational Inheritance

Developmental Biology lies at the crossroads of all the Life Sciences, integrating investigations at molecular, cellular, tissue and organismal levels. The 2015 Gordon Conference on Developmental Biology will present the most recent, cutting-edge research in the field. The nine sessions of oral presentations will cover classic topics and emerging areas in the field: Cellular Mechanisms of Early Development; Regulatory Networks of Gene Expression during Development; Self-Assembly of Subcellular Structures; Transgenerational Signaling; Epithelial Patterning and Morphogenesis; Stem Cell Biology; Patterning and Cell Fate. One session will highlight the discovery and functions of small non-coding RNAs. The sessions will include extended time for discussion. A portion of each session time has been kept uncommitted to choose speakers from abstracts submitted by the participants, particularly junior investigators. Because progress in Developmental Biology depends on cross-fertilization of ideas from complementary organisms, presentations will include studies in standard invertebrates such as Drosophila and C. elegans, classic vertebrate models including zebrafish, Xenopus and the mouse, as well as plants, non-standard animals and humans. Afternoons and late evenings will be reserved for presentation of posters and informal interactions. The relaxed atmosphere and the rural setting of the meeting will encourage stimulating discussions between established and junior investigators in all aspects of the field.

We will have funding to support some participants, especially graduate students, postdocs or junior faculty whose abstract is chosen for a talk.